Thursday, 2 February 2017

5 Tips For Reducing Stress The Day Of Your Job Interview

Source: Eric Audrus / Getty

After months of responding to job postings, you finally land an
interview. Yasssss! This is literally the only thing standing between
you and the job, so now you’re nervous. Don’t be.
This could be a pivotal moment in your life and career, so it’s
natural to feel nervous. But there’s no reason to let stress rule the
day, says Lisa Quast, author of the book “Secrets of a Hiring Manager Turned Career Coach: A Foolproof Guide to Getting the Job You Want Every Time.”
“Life routinely throws us curves, and that’s just as likely to happen
on your job-interview day as any other day,” Quast says. “Traffic could
be bad. You might spill something on the blouse you planned to wear.
Any number of things could go wrong that aren’t directly related to the
interview, but can knock you off your game.”
While it’s not possible to anticipate every scenario, Quast says a
little preparation can help you keep the anxiety level manageable.
She offers these tips for navigating your interview day as stress free as possible: 1. Know where you need to go.
Don’t wait until right before an interview to make sure you have the
correct address and phone number. Verify these online by checking the
company website a few days ahead of time. You also should download
driving directions or program the address into your smart phone or GPS
to find potential routes and estimated drive times. “When in doubt, do a
trial run,” Quast says. “You can drive there the weekend before to get
the lay of the land and see where to park.” Don’t rely on technology
alone. Always have a hard copy with the address and driving directions,
just in case GPS or the smartphone fails you.2. Obtain the correctly spelled name of the interviewer.
And remember, bring a printout of the job posting. “It always
surprises me how many people show up for a job interview and can’t
remember the name of the hiring manager or even the job title of the
position they’re interviewing for,” Quast says. “Don’t be one of those
people.”3. Schedule enough time for the interview.
Block your calendar so you won’t need to rush from one job interview
to the next, or go straight to another appointment or back to work. “The
interview could take much longer than you think going in,” Quast says.
For example, if things are going well, you might be asked to interview
with others in the organization. Be sure to schedule ample time in case
you need to stay longer. “You don’t want to be stealing quick glances at
your watch when you should be listening to what the hiring manager is
saying,” Quast says.4. Turn off your cell phone.
“When I say off, I mean off,” Quast says. “Don’t put it on vibrate.”
The reason, she says, is that almost everyone can hear a cell phone
vibrating in a purse, briefcase or pocket. You will be aware that a call
is coming in for you. The people interviewing you will be aware. And
you will be aware that they are aware.5. Take a bathroom break before the interview.
Use the restroom before you leave your house and avoid too much
coffee or other liquids shortly before your interview. If you need to
use the bathroom when you arrive at the company, ask the receptionist to
point you to them before he or she informs the hiring manager that you
have arrived.
“One additional thing you can do is give yourself a pep talk before
the interview,” Quast says. “Mentally remind yourself of all the things
you plan to do during the interview, the points you want to make about
your experience and the questions you have about the company.
“You may not be able to eliminate all the butterflies, but your
preparation should help reduce the stress and let you concentrate on
making the most of the opportunity.”
Good luck!